Is 1300 a good SAT score?
Yes, 1300 is a good SAT score. It sits around the 85th percentile, so you scored higher than about 85 out of 100 test takers. It is a strong score for most public universities and many private colleges, but usually below the typical range at the most selective schools.
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In more detail
The SAT is scored from 400 to 1600: 200 to 800 for Reading and Writing and 200 to 800 for Math. On College Board's percentile table, a 1300 is about the 85th percentile and a 1350 about the 89th. A 1300, for example 650 plus 650, is far above the College Board readiness benchmarks of 480 in Reading and Writing and 530 in Math.
Whether 1300 is good for you depends on your college list. Colleges publish the middle 50% of SAT scores of the students they admitted, with the 25th percentile at the bottom and the 75th at the top. At or above a school's 75th percentile, a 1300 helps you there. Inside the range, it is a normal score for that school. At the most selective colleges that range often starts above 1400.
Where a 1300 sits on the SAT
| Score | What it means |
|---|---|
| 1600 | Highest possible score |
| 1350 | About the 89th percentile |
| 1300 | About the 85th percentile |
| 1050 | About the 55th percentile |
| 480 RW and 530 Math | College readiness benchmarks |
| 400 | Lowest possible score |
Step by step
- 1
Look up the middle 50% SAT range of each college on your list. It is on the admissions page or in the school's Common Data Set.
- 2
Compare your 1300 with it: at or above the 75th percentile is a plus, inside the range is normal, below the 25th percentile is a weak spot.
- 3
At test-optional colleges, send the 1300 if it is inside or above that school's range. If it is below, think about applying without a score.
- 4
Check merit scholarship cutoffs. Some schools award money at set scores, so a small gain can pay off.
- 5
If you retake, start with a full practice test, sort every miss by topic and drill your weaker section for a few weeks before test day.
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Sources
See also
- AnswerWhat is a good SAT score?
- AnswerIs 1400 a good SAT score?
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More questions
What percentile is a 1300 on the SAT?
About the 85th percentile among recent test takers, so you scored higher than roughly 85 out of 100 students. A 1350 is about the 89th percentile.
Should I retake the SAT with a 1300?
Retake if 1300 is below the middle 50% range of the colleges you care most about, or if a scholarship you want asks for more. If it is already inside or above those ranges, your time is often better spent on grades and essays.
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